LABOR SUNDAY 2009 100th Anniversary

September 6th is LABOR SUNDAY and since its adoption at the Federation of Labor’s convention in 1909 has been designated as such on church calendars. Most folks think of Labor Day Monday (well the whole weekend for that matter) as a calendar marker heralding the end of summer, a day devoted to LEISURE, fun, family outings, trips to the beach, barbecues, picnics, and parties. It means school has begun again along with football season.
But Labor Sunday and Labor Day Monday deserve more than an identity with the end of summer and the beginning of school.
The very word LABOR has kept company with such precedents as “slave,” “cheap,” “day,” “hard,” and “difficult.” When coupled with the word “skilled,” it still refers to work that is not, customarily performed by the intelligencia--for pay anyway. Consequently, Labor in all of its incarnations has a tendency to be undervalued by society. But isn’t it also true that when we create something, or build something we are elated, triumphant, proclaiming proudly to all who will listen: “I made it with my own hands” or when we fix something: “I fixed it all by myself!” as if laboring with our hands and our bodies is a feat of great daring, worthy of applause, but only when we are not being paid to do it.
As a Nurse I spent most of my working years laboring at the bedside of my patients doing hands on nursing. In the intensive care unit I had two patients to care for and it was my job to care for them intensively-- in detail. As a matter of fact I came to refer to myself as a “patient detailer.” I saw to it that they were pain free, clean and comfortable in the best condition possible. When my shift was over at 7:30 in the morning I would look upon my two charges as if they were pieces of fine art and say: “Now those patients have been taken care of by ME!” It was a moment of satisfaction and pride, a moment I had earned through years of learning and honing my craft. Yet, a nurse would never be referred to as a “laborer”, or more pejoratively as a “working class stiff.”
We err when we define the word LABOR too narrowly. I think LABOR ought not to be about class distinctions. It is about investment—the investment of ourselves. The laborers in the vineyard of Matthew’s parable chapter 20:1-15, invested confidence in the owner of the vineyard that he would be true to his word to pay them for whatever effort they made. They invested their backs, their hands, and their hours in varied lengths performing the tasks assigned to them and at the end of the day they received what they had been promised by the vineyard owner. The metaphor of God’s vineyard/creation and our role as laborers in it really applies to anything and everything we commit to. In God’s vineyard we are not slave, cheap, or day laborers. We are the designated majordomos. That is, we are not only the laborers, but the stewards and responsible caretakers who have a stake in how well the vineyard does because we are privileged to partake of all that the vineyard yields. It doesn’t belong to us, nevertheless it requires our commitment.
ALL LABOR, THEN, IS ABOUT CARETAKING. We invest our ability to care in that which has been entrusted to us. Thus OUR LABOR is our willing investment in something to bring about the best outcome. The value of the outcome is not measured by the amount we are paid for our invested labor: skill, sweat, or time. Laboring, investing ourselves is what is valuable.
Perhaps we may celebrate LABOR SUNDAY best by acknowledging that we —humankind --are God’s Labor of love. Not one thing we do, not one decision we make in this life, affects only us. We are all laborers in God’s vineyard; no matter what our work is we are to be caretakers. When we think only of ourselves, how well we shall live, or what degree of opulence we deserve, we only do harm to the creation and each other. So let us let our lives be our labor of love to the glory of God. When we invest our best no matter what the labor(s): our families, our jobs, our relationships, our church, our intellect, our hobbies or our spirituality, we are being good stewards of what has been entrusted to our care.
The Preacher, the author of Ecclesiastes, writes in chapter 3 verse 12: “I know that there is nothing better for them [humankind] than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.”
Hope to see you in church on Labor Sunday. If you like, wear work clothes.
On LABOR DAY Monday indulge in lots of LEISURE, which was exactly the intention of the day when it was established over 100 years ago, because leisure 100 years go was something laborers had very little of.

Have a Leisurely Labor Day.

Blessings,

Rev, Amanda

Prayer for August 30, 2009 Mark 7 "Giving Lip Service"

Dearest Lord, there are days when we search for the right words to express what is in our hearts. Sometimes it feels like our prayers are just a muddle of thoughts, wishes, hopes, and complaints. We try to be clear. We try to remember to be thankful first and foremost, but are aware that very often our prayers begin with the word HELP. We sing your praises in our hymns; we lift up the names of those who are in our hearts; we ponder the scriptures to interpret your will for us and we carry your grace with us as we depart. In worship we honor you with our lips, but we desire to honor you by our actions. Free our hearts, O God, from vanity and jealousy, from feeling slighted or left out. Let that free space be filled with patience, understanding, and maturity and we shall, in that moment indeed, recognize and embrace the indwelling of your most Holy Spirit. Then, certainly grace will be upon our lips. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer for August 23rd Worship Scripture John 11 "BELIEVE IN THE BLUE"

Glorious God, We give you thanks and praise as the creator of all the things. Throughout our history you have wanted us to know that you were always close at hand, not fearfully close, but mercifully close. We confess that we have believed you to be possessive, jealous, and angry unwilling to shower us with what we thought we deserved and needed. Again and again you have come to us trying to connect, trying to make peace, trying to please a fickle friend. We are yours and we confess that fact. We, like Martha, will not hesitate to say “Yes Lord we believe.” Help us O Gracious one not to be afraid of what is coming. Let us be assured that your desire for us is life eternal in your company. Teach us not to fear in the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer for Worship August 16, 2009 Scripture John 10: 22-39 "THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING"

Wondrous and Loving God, hear our prayer. We praise your name and offer our thanks for your faithfulness to us always. Even when we have failed in our covenant relationship, whether by ignorance or arrogance or even callous disregard, you stayed close at hand. We confess that we have often blamed our disappointments, our hurts, our unmet expectations on you and ask your forgiveness. We know, dearest Abba, that the world and time do not revolve around us, our needs and our wants, but are loathe to let go of the hold they have on our spirit. When they threaten to take over help us banish anxious thoughts, endless worrying and our penchant for being in control. Move us from resistance, opposition and rejection to credence, approval and faithful acceptance. Bestow upon us your boldest vision of our purpose and mission as Christ’s body in this world, in this community, in this time... today. Amen.

Prayer to Accompany the Sermon August 9, 2009 "STRAINING THE QUALITY OF MERCY"

Most Merciful and Loving God, always grateful for the privilege we have of worshipping in this sanctuary, today we humbly beg your pardon for those occasions when we have allowed our pride to get in the way of our better judgment. In this complex world we hope to live by solid principles, knowing the difference between right and wrong, our conclusions tempered by mercy. We pray not to be ensnared by legal absolutes and single mindedness, but to see matters from all sides. Help us gracious God to open our hearts and to think always with the mind of Christ. Remind us that we are called, as Christ’s followers, to walk in the shoes of our brothers and sisters, if not to experience, at least, to comprehend the weight that rests upon their shoulders. When it falls upon us to determine the guilt or innocence of anyone, in matters of the law, infuse our thoughts and deliberations with the better sense which only your most Holy Spirit can offer. in the name of the Christ we pray.

Prayer to Accompany Sermon August 2, 2009 "SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED"

Glorious and Ever Loving God, today we give thanks for friends and for friendships that have left an indelible mark upon our hearts, often standing the test of time and distance. We are grateful for the wise counsel of friends who endeavor to hold us close through thick and thin, through life’s ups and downs, through gain and loss. When they are gone from our site, having taken that journey of forever, we can’t help feeling as if the rug has been pulled out from under us, or we have been brought up short. We suddenly find ourselves pondering what life beyond this life is like. They have run the life race in which no one wants to be the first to cross the finish line, yet, we believe, gracious God, that when they cross that finish line they have won . In our imaginings we wonder what that eternal winner’s circle looks like. “Guide we O thou great Jehovah, pilgrims through this barren land. We are weak, but thou art mighty; hold us with thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven feed us till we want no more; feed us till we want no more.” In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.